The International LiDAR Mapping Forum [ILMF], the premier event for the LIDAR industry attracting professionals from all over the world and supported by ASPRS and MAPPS has announced a Call for Papers for the 2012 event, to be held in Denver, CO from January 23-25, 2012.

The 11th Annual Conference was held in New Orleans earlier this year and welcomed a total of 576 delegates from 33 countries who collectively gave rave reviews and feedback on a successful and prosperous 3 days. The technical conference program heard 34 technical papers presented by leading authorities in their field, supported by a sold out exhibit hall with 59 of the top international organizations being represented.

The ILMF is an essential event for anyone operating in or connected with mapping as it is applicable in many areas: forestry or landscape management; utilities including gas and power lines, roads and railways, and even along national coastlines and estuaries. The latest sector which is driving a major new sector is mobile mapping, where LIDAR data on urban objects such as buildings, roads features is being collected in significant quantities to form part of map applications on mobile smartphones and other devices.

A key focus for this event is the three day world class Technical Conference, where speakers from the international LIDAR community will be reporting on latest technology advances and recent projects, highlighting actual experiences and lessons learned in aerial and bathymetric LIDAR with a focus on mobile mapping. Technology advances resulting in faster and more compact data capture systems are reshaping the LIDAR mapping market. Combining these with complementary data processing and visualization systems is now opening up a whole new range of applications, and, more importantly, introducing new end-customers to the cost benefits of LIDAR mapping. All this bodes well for an internationally expanding LIDAR market. With the falling cost per mile of data capture and processing, surveys can now be conducted more often and updated more frequently.

The ILMF Technical Committee lead by Conference Chairman Alastair MacDonald from TMSI invite papers on a number of topics all of which can be found on the website http://www.lidarmap.org/conference/submit_papers.aspx . Abstracts should be no more than 250 words and can be submitted online at the aforementioned website address. The deadline is September 7, 2011. Each abstract will be peer reviewed by the committee.

Another key component is the exhibition that will feature more than 50 leading companies in this rapidly growing global market showcasing new LIDAR products and a wide range of new technologies and services. Exhibitors include the LIDAR and complementary sensor manufacturers, survey service companies, data processing, GIS and management specialists and the latest mobile mapping vehicles. The exhibition also houses an informative array of technical posters from academia and industry.

Conference Chairman Alastair MacDonald commented, “The LIDAR scanners now arriving on the market are smaller, faster and cheaper to operate, and in addition to driving new applications and user sectors, their cost-efficiency is enabling greater volumes of mapping work to be undertaken than ever before.” He went on to say, “ As the world’s leading LIDAR focused event, the ILMF offers a wealth of interest and benefits to all delegates, users and buyers at all levels: whether you are a seasoned LIDAR professional and want to update your knowledge, or a new entrant to the LIDAR community who wants to find out what LIDAR is about, ILMF is for you. With world class speakers in three Conference tracks on airborne, bathymetry and mobile mapping, and all the key technology suppliers exhibiting, the ILMF is relevant to all mapping sectors and is the main event to visit.”

The Conference Program is complemented by Technical workshops which are hosted by exhibiting companies and are aimed at providing novice operators and their managers and potential purchasers of equipment with an understanding of the basic principles and fundamental benefits and technology associated with LIDAR whilst providing the more seasoned experts with up-to-date information on current developments. Delegates can dip in and out of these sessions and follow up with exhibiting companies at their booths to become fully aware of the products and opportunities offered within the LIDAR market.

Even though the pace of the Conference will be no doubt demanding, there will still be time for the trademark socialising and networking events for which the ILMF is well known!

James Wilder Young

Jamie Young has worked in the LiDAR industry for 21 Years. I am Currently Director- LiDAR Services at PrecisionHawk precisionhawk.com, a leading provider of advanced commercial drone technologies, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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